When there is someone that does not know about the 2024 elections of America it will be me. Although America is a big western country with a lot of power it differs a lot from the political system we are known with in Europe. With the elections coming up my instagram, tik tok and other social media platforms are exploding. Big celebrities like Elon Musk and Taylor Swift are active on posting about the event and even have been highly vocal about their political stance. The positive side of it is that it gives notice that you should vote at a younger age, which I think is really good. But everything has a downside. Should these figures have this much influence on (young) people? Do they have the right to lecture the public even though they probably don’t even know anything about it?
source: Newsweek
The Power of Celebrity Voices
There’s no denying the impact celebrities have on shaping the opinion of the public. With millions of followers on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X amplify their voices, making that even a casual post about voting can turn into a viral movement. Taylor Swift, for example, has been praised for encouraging young people to vote, which in the United States is a big leap. This kind of influence is valuable because the voter turnout among young people is often way lower than older demographics. When I turned eighteen I had no idea what to vote for, so I did a “stemwijzer” and my prejudices were that American youth would base this on celebs. It turns out this is not true.
The Limits
However, despite the visible influence on voter participation, studies suggest that celebrity recommendations don’t necessarily persuade political decisions. A Harvard study noted the power of these voices in promoting voting, but a USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll found that voters aren’t deeply influenced by figures like Beyonce or Kim K when choosing candidates. Instead, political figures like Barack and Michelle Obama have a more significant impact on voters’ political choices.
For instance, 18% of voters stated former President Barack Obama’s endorsement mattered significantly, while 14% said the same for Michelle Obama. These numbers reflect that voters prioritize political expertise over celebrities when it comes to making political decisions.
source: The conversations
Conclusion
While celebrities can boost participation and raise awareness, their political endorsements often don’t directly have results. This balance shows that while they have a right to express their views, the public should critically evaluate these opinions, ensuring that their political choices are well-informed. Like comedian Ricky Gervais said in his speech at the Golden Globes about celebrities, ‘You’re in no position to lecture the public’. Well, he is completely right. They don’t, but luckily they do not have that much political influence on the Americans. Luckily.
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